Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Monday, October 15, 2012

Rang Decor has seen Karthik Vaidyanathan share his creative space with it's readers, start his new venture Varnam~ Colors for your homeand now he is back with his full fledged exhibition showcasing traditional crafts of Channapatna that are made relevant in today's times and have a strong utilitarian value in our everyday life.

'Gubbi Series' Paper weights.

The 'Channapatnaiks' bottle stoppers.

'Kuruvi Series' Paper Roll Dispenser.

Karthik states, "It was over two years ago, on a road trip to Mysore, when I had stopped by at a little toy-shop along the streets of this little town called Channapatna. I came away fascinated. Little did I know then, that I would be so closely linked with this beautiful craft form in the coming years."

Kuruvi Series' Wall Hooks.

'Four Little Chefs' Napkin and Card Holder.

'Three Little Piggies on a bus' hanger.

Salt & Pepper Shakers.

Varnam, his own social enterprise has been working with a group of talented crafts-women (for over a year now) to try and revisit this craft that was traditionally known for making toys.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Coppre is a creative collaboration between the 'Tambat' craftsmen in Maharashtra and Rashmi Ranade, a product designer from Industrial Design Centre, IIT Powai and Sir JJ School of Architecture.

Coppre works with the craftspeople, by modernizing their products for contemporary sensibilities thereby making the old relevant in the new.

Inspiration from nature...

Rashmi draws inspiration from interesting objects she picks up during her long walks like palm leaves, castor leaves, peepal leaves and lotus buds.

Castor leaf tea lights.

Nature Inspired floater.

Copper Pod tealights.

Peepal Leaf.

"The legacy of the Tambat craftspeople who handcraft Coppre's products dates back to the 17th century when they were invited to Pune by the Peshwas when Shivaji set up the city as the capital city of the Maratha Empire.

When the Tambat craftspeople migrated from Konkan to Pune, they formed their settlement in Kasba Peth, an already established nucleus of old Pune. Their precincts came to be known as Tambat Ali (Ali:precincts). These narrow and dusty alleys of Tambat Ali where the timeless sound of metal-hammers clang on copper, have remained pretty much the same as they were almost 300 years ago.

From making armour, coins, canons, copper utensils, ritual wares for the Peshwa rulers, the craftspeople embraced the culinary and ritual needs of Maharashtrian communities and crafted traditional products such as utensils and puja items."~Coppre

Coppre and Light...

This series shows the interplay of light and the reflective metal.

Circle of light tea lights.

Hurricane lamps.

‘Matharkaam’ or beaten work is the distinguishing feature of Tambat craft. The hand-beaten indentations, made by profiled beating hammers, strengthen the object and enhance the inherent rich surface by imparting a mirror-like appearance. It is a skill intensive craft and needs strength, dexterity and a keen hand-foot-eye coordination.

~ Coppre

Reflecting the old in the new...

Drawing inspiration from old traditional vessels, Rashmi has created a modern twist to her Grandmother's trinket box and her mother's Meditation Urlis.

Chip Dip Platter.

Meditation Urlis.

Trinket Boxes.

The bedside Water carafes designed, have drawn inspiration from the ayurvedic practice of drinking water stored in copper vessels.

This craft started dwindling due to loss of patronage by the Peshwas, mechanization, many bans imposed during British Rule and more recently the changing traditions, rising copper prices and the convenience offered by other materials has reduced the number of families practicing this craft to a small number.

Traditional Tambat Products...

Here are some beautiful traditional Tambat products made today.

Water Jug.

Modak (Dumplings) Steamer.

Water Container.

This art of beaten copper metal brings in aesthetics as well as functionality.

Kudos to Rashmi and her team at Coppre and supported by INTACH & Forbes Marshall for this grand effort in keeping this diminishing craft alive and supporting the Tambat Craftspeople.

You can check out their Facebook page here or email them at coppremarketing@gmail.com(Images from Coppre)